What is wrong with our kids these days ?

[It's On A Slab]

Nothing will ever replace love, discipline, and the truth. We have to walk the walk we talk. This is crucial. As many of you well know.

No question about it. It all begins in the home.

Kids learn to emulate the values and expectations you reflect.

The biggest lesson kids should learn is this: Life is not fair.

 

[NYBamaFan]

The biggest lesson kids should learn is this: Life is not fair.

LOL - if you only knew how often I have said those very words to my children. It may not be the most important to everyone, but it should be right there at the top...

 

[wisten]

Remember, though, that the parents are not to blame. They are practicing "natural" childrearing, besides, there is no such thing as a guilty criminal, only victims of circumstance.

Now, if you believe any of what I just wrote, then I have several nice acres of land in extreme southern Louisiana to sell you. Three things are happening right now:

1) Parents not showing responsibility
2) Parents more interested in being a friend than a role model
3) Innundation by the media. What is "Prime Time" used to be "R" rated.

Kids are moving faster. Sex and drugs become an issue barely out of grammar school. Violence, well, just go to CNN or FOX News and you'll get your fill of teen violence.

What can be done? What many on this board are talking about. Raise your children to learn respect, responsibility, and accountability. As a parent, I am NOT my children's friend. I am their benefactor, guide, teacher, and, at worst, disciplinarian. Once they are older, I hope I have done the job right with the right mixture of guidance and instruction sprinkled over heaps of love to earn their friendship.

 

[Piglet]

I'll bet if you looked at how many of the most bratty kids have parents who are divorced, you'd get some interesting results.

 

[bamabake]

Remember, though, that the parents are not to blame. They are practicing "natural" childrearing, besides, there is no such thing as a guilty criminal, only victims of circumstance.

Now, if you believe any of what I just wrote, then I have several nice acres of land in extreme southern Louisiana to sell you. Three things are happening right now:

1) Parents not showing responsibility
2) Parents more interested in being a friend than a role model
3) Innundation by the media. What is "Prime Time" used to be "R" rated.

Kids are moving faster. Sex and drugs become an issue barely out of grammar school. Violence, well, just go to CNN or FOX News and you'll get your fill of teen violence.

What can be done? What many on this board are talking about. Raise your children to learn respect, responsibility, and accountability. As a parent, I am NOT my children's friend. I am their benefactor, guide, teacher, and, at worst, disciplinarian. Once they are older, I hope I have done the job right with the right mixture of guidance and instruction sprinkled over heaps of love to earn their friendship.

All the thoughts here are valuable, even indispensible. It does start at home. However it is also the moral adults out there, the ones that understand right from wrong, to speak up and not be shouted down by a secular agenda. If you think homosexuality is wrong for example, yes teach your kids but dont be intimidated when called intolerant or homophobic or other silly nonsense. If you believe that tax dollars represent your money and not the govts, then speak up. I think it is important though in the process to show firmness in your compassion at the same time. One can love his enemies and rebuke them at the same time. I of course mean enemy here in a political sense. Culture wars go back and forth. One of the things I admire about DBF is he doesnt just complain, he gets involved. He tries to be part of change. Our kids will be better served, their kids even more so, if we stand up today and call wrong wrong, and embrace the virtuous. Privately and publically.

 

[Queasy1]

It's because they watched Pokemon and Power Rangers when they were growing up instead of VeggieTales.

 

[wisten]

All the thoughts here are valuable, even indispensible. It does start at home. However it is also the moral adults out there, the ones that understand right from wrong, to speak up and not be shouted down by a secular agenda. If you think homosexuality is wrong for example, yes teach your kids but dont be intimidated when called intolerant or homophobic or other silly nonsense. If you believe that tax dollars represent your money and not the govts, then speak up. I think it is important though in the process to show firmness in your compassion at the same time. One can love his enemies and rebuke them at the same time. I of course mean enemy here in a political sense. Culture wars go back and forth. One of the things I admire about DBF is he doesnt just complain, he gets involved. He tries to be part of change. Our kids will be better served, their kids even more so, if we stand up today and call wrong wrong, and embrace the virtuous. Privately and publically.

Exactly.

 

[TiderinVA]

I find it truly sad that in the schools around here

the have "Values lessons" where the kids are taught things like:

* Be honest at all times

* Be respectful to everyone

* Work through tough times, persevere

* Take pride in everything you do

I'm thinking to myself, "That's nice but where are the parents in all this? Why the need to 'teach' this stuff to kids that should already know this?"

The answer is that more and more kids aren't taught anything anymore about how to act by the parents. The parents are so wrapped up in making money and careers that there isn't time to teach the kids anything. Around here, most people commute to DC and northern Virginia and literally commute 4-5 hours every single day. Add that to an 8 hour day and folks are exhausted by the time they get home at 7:00 pm. My neighbor works for the IRS in downtown DC and literally leaves the house at 5:00 am and gets home about 7:30 everynight. He's done this for 18 years. The sad truth is that most parents around here are so busy pursuing that almighty dollar that they're too tired to teach Jimmy any kind of values.

Add that the media (movies, sitcoms, cable, CNN, etc) almost encourages that kids act like savages, it's no wonder some of these kids act like they do.

I don't know what it will take for folks to wake up and do something about this. I do think that if it's up to the schools to teach kids how to act, it's too late.

My kids are 14 and 12. Not perfect but good kids because my wife and I stay on them about what is appropriate and to have at least some manners. I can't say the same for some of the kids they go to school with.

It's VERY sad.